Comparison of Karanjin with other nitrification inhibitors for retardation of nitrification of urea N in soil

Summary Comparative evaluation of Kranjin and three patented nitrification inhibitors for retardation of nitrification of urea in a sandy clay loam showed that the effectiveness of the compounds tested decreased in the order: Nitrapyrin>Karanjin>A.M.>dicyandiamide.     

The heterogeneous nature of microbial products as shown by solid-state13C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy

Homoionic Na-, Ca-, and Al-clays were prepared from the <2 m fractions of Georgia kaolinite and Wyoming bentonite and mixed with sand to give artificial soils with 5, and 25% clay. The artificial soils were inoculated with microbes from a natural soil before incubation. Unlabelled and uniformly¹³C-labelled (99.9% atom) glucose were incorporated into the artificial soils to study the effects of clay types, exchangeable cations and clay contents on the mineralization of glucose-carbon and glucose-derived organic materials. Chemical transformation of glucose-carbon upon incorporation into microbial products and metabolites, was followed using solid-state¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy.There was a significant influence of exchangeable cations on the mineralization of glucose-carbon over a period of 33 days. At 25% clay content, mineralization of glucose-carbon was highest in Ca-soils and lowest in Al-soils. The influence of exchangeable cations on mineralization of glucose-carbon was more pronounced in soils with bentonite clay than those with kaolinite clay. Statistical analysis of data showed no overall effect of clay type on mineralization of glucose-carbon. However, the interactions of clay type with clay content and clay type with clay content and exchangeable cations were highly significant. At 25% clay content, the mineralization of glucose-carbon was significantly lower in Na- and Al-soils with Wyoming bentonite compared with Na- and Al-soils with Georgia kaolinite. For Ca-soils this difference was not significant. Due to the increased osmotic tension induced by the added glucose, mineralization of glucose-carbon was slower in soils with 5% clay than soils with 25% clay.Despite the differences in the chemical and physical characteristics of soils with Ca-, Na- and Al-clays, the chemical composition of organic materials synthesised in these soils were similar in nature. Assuming CP/MAS is quantitative, incorporation of uniformly¹³C-labelled glucose (99.9% atom) in these soils resulted in distribution of carbon in alkyl (24–25%), O-alkyl (56–63%), carbonyl (11–15%) and small amounts of aromatic and olefinic carbon (2–4%). However, as decomposition proceeded, the chemistry of synthesised material showed some changes with time. In the Ca- and Na-soils, the proportions of alkyl and carbonyl carbon decreased and that of O-alkyl carbon increased with time of incubation. However, the opposite trend was found for the Al-soil.Proton-spin relaxation editing (PSRE) subspectra clearly showed heterogeneity within the microbial products. Subspectra of the slowly-relaxing (long T₁(H)) domains were dominated by alkyl carbon in long- and short-chain structures. The signals due to N-alkyl (55 ppm) and carbonyl carbon were also strong in these subspectra. These subspectra were very similar to those obtained for microbial and fungal materials and were probably microbial tissues attached to clay surfaces by polysaccharide extracellular mucilage. Subspectra of fast-relaxing (short T₁(H)) domains comprised mostly O-alkyl and carbonyl carbon and were probably microbial metabolites released as neutral and acidic sugars into the extracellular environment, and strongly sorbed by clay surfaces.     

Estimating regional carbon stocks and spatially covarying edaphic factors using soil maps at three scales

Most estimates of regional and global soil carbon stocks are based on extrapolations of mean soil C contents for broad categories of soil or vegetation types. Uncertainties exist in both the estimates of mean soil C contents and the area over which each mean should be extrapolated. Geographic information systems now permit spatially referenced estimates of soil C at finer scales of resolution than were previously practical. We compared estimates of total soil C stocks of the state of Maine using three methods: (1) multiplying the area of the state by published means of soil C for temperate forests and for Spodosols; (2) calculating areas of inclusions of soil taxa in the 1:5,000,000 FAO/UNESCO Soils Map of the World and multiplying those areas by selected mean carbon contents; and (3) calculating soil C for each soil series and map unit in the 1:250,000 State Soil Geographic Data Base (STATSGO) and summing these estimates for the entire state. The STATSGO estimate of total soil C was between 23% and 49% higher than the common coarse scale extrapolations, primarily because STATSGO included data on Histosols, which cover less than 5% of the area of the state, but which constitute over one-third of the soil C. Spodosols cover about 65% of the state, but contribute less than 39% of the soil C. Estimates of total soil C in Maine based on the FAO map agreed within 8% of the STATSGO estimate for one possible matching of FAO soil taxa with data on soil C, but another plausible matching overestimated soil C stocks. We also compared estimates from the 1:250,000 STATSGO database and from the 1:20,000 Soil Survey Geographic Data Base (SSURGO) for a 7.5 minute quadrangle within the state. SSURGO indicated 13% less total soil C than did STATSGO, largely because the attribute data on depths of soil horizons in SSURGO are more specific for this locality. Despite localized differences, the STATSGO database offers promise of scaling up county soil survey data to regional scales because it includes attribute data and estimates of areal coverage of C-rich inclusions within map units. The spatially referenced data also permit examination of covariation of soil C stocks with soil properties thought to affect stabilization of soil C. Clay content was a poor predictor of soil C in Maine, but drainage class covaried significantly with soil C across the state.     

The protective value of the colour and shape of the mountain katydid's antipredator defence

Deimatic behaviour is performed by prey when attacked by predators as part of an antipredator strategy. The behaviour is part of a sequence that consists of several defences, for example they can be preceded by camouflage and followed by a hidden putatively aposematic signal that is only revealed when the deimatic behaviour is performed. When displaying their hidden signal, mountain katydids (Acripeza reticulata) hold their wings vertically, exposing striking red and black stripes with blue spots and oozing an alkaloid-rich chemical defence derived from its Senecio diet. Understanding differences and interactions between deimatism and aposematism has proven problematic, so in this study we isolated the putative aposematic signal of the mountain katydid's antipredator strategy to measure its survival value in the absence of their deimatic behaviour. We manipulated two aspects of the mountain katydid's signal, colour pattern and whole body shape during display. We deployed five kinds of clay models, one negative control and four katydid-like treatments, in 15 grids across part of the mountain katydid's distribution to test the hypothesis that their hidden signal is aposematic. If this hypothesis holds true, we expected that the models, which most closely resembled real katydids would be attacked the least. Instead, we found that models that most closely resembled real katydids were the most likely to be attacked. We suggest several ideas to explain these results, including that the deimatic phase of the katydid's display, the change from a camouflaged state to exposing its hidden signal, may have important protective value.     

东部草原露天矿区粘土改良模拟研究

以我国东部草原露天矿区粘土为研究对象,采用盆栽试验方法,以粘土与表土和沙土混合物为培养基质,三叶草(Trifolium repens Linn)为供试植物,研究不同比例下三叶草生物量、养分吸收量、土壤理化和生物学性状的差异,为寻找最佳配比提供依据。结果表明:不同混合比例显著影响三叶草生物量,粘土+表土(1∶1、1∶2和1∶3)生物量最高(26.5—40.0 g/盆),平均为31.2 g/盆,粘土+沙土(1∶1、1∶2和1∶3)次之(14.9—20.3 g/盆),平均为18.9 g/盆,粘土、沙土和表土平均分别是9.0、5.4 g/盆和41.7 g/盆,同样地,粘土+表土混合基质上三叶草氮吸收量平均为1071 mg/盆,分别是粘土+沙土、粘土和沙土氮吸收量660、321 mg/盆和190 mg/盆的1.62、3.34倍和5.64倍,磷和钾吸收量具有相似变化规律,这与三叶草根直径、根长、根表面积和根尖数有显著关联性;粘土和表土与粘土和沙土混合基质的容重和最大持水量分别显著下降7.4%—21.5%和24.5%—71.8%,饱和入渗率、孔隙度和标准化平均重量直径分别显著增加26.9%—96.3%、45%—218%和34%—72%;全氮、有机质、速效磷、速效钾、饱和电导率显著增加23.0%—88.3%、25.1%—146%、44.0%—91.5%、70.3%—114.8%和3.5%—59.3%;磷酸酶、脲酶、蔗糖酶、硝酸还原酶和固氮酶活性显著提高45.5%—105%、65.2%—172.3%、160%—252%、53.4%—62.7%和197%—374%;真菌、细菌和放线菌数量增幅为119%—142%、93.5%—107%和83%—147%。相关性分析表明,生物量与土壤理化性状、酶活性和微生物数量呈显著或极显著正相关,表现为粘土+表土=表土粘土+沙土粘土沙土。因此,表土或沙土均能改良粘土性状,其中粘土和表土1∶2配比效果最优。     

Improving integrated management of weed control by determination of weed seed bank in sandy and clay soil

Knowledge of soil weed seed bank is important for population dynamics studied, establishment of appropriate weed management programs, a little effort in understanding weed seed bank can give valuable information about what weeds to expect in growing season, weed density, and when most weed germination will take place. In this study, a two - year''s, two sites were carried out with the aim of assessing weed seed bank status of the soil throughout 2018 and 2019. A site was worked out in Sakha Agriculture Research farm act as a clay soil, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Agriculture Research Center (ARC). Another site was worked out in El-Ismailia Agr; Res; farm act as sandy soil, El-Ismailia Governorate, ARC. At each site, soil samples were selected from nine different places as like three Zigzag shapes divided into three, six and nine sites, “W” to act the whole soil area (30 faddan in Sakha farm, and 15 faddan in El-Ismailia farm). The soil samples were taken from topsoil 0–10 cm depth with an auger (core) 10 cm diameter the soils without tillage and before sowing the summer crop. The result of present the study in two different stations and soils, revealed that the number of soil samples to estimate weed seed banks should be either six or nine sites; each sample weighted 0.50 Kg soil with zigzag shape act a direct seed extraction technique to able recognize the abundance of weed species into the soil and their seed density. The aim is to improve integrated weed control.     

Molecular simulation of swelling and structure for Na-Wyoming montmorillonite in supercritical CO2

Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo (GEMC) simulations were used to study the swelling stability and interlayer structures of Na-montmorillonite clay in supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂). From the GEMC simulation, it was found that there exist several stable mechanical spacings for Na-Wyoming montmorillonite immersed in scCO₂, which are larger than the stable spacing in vacuum condition. The swelling behaviour of Na-montmorillonite clay in scCO₂ fluid is thermodynamically favourable. However, it was also observed that the clay swelling is inhibited when in contact with CO₂ gas at atmospheric pressure. The interlayer structures were applied to investigate the mechanism of swelling. In the case of stable spacings, the interlayer sodium cations are not only well solvated with the surrounding CO₂ molecules but also show stronger tendency to adhere to the clay surface.     

Absolute Configuration of (+)-1-Acetoxy-p-menth-3-one Isolated from Essential Oil of Mentha gentilis (L.)

The most effective electro-energizing fermentation (E-E F) conditions for l-glutamate (l-Glu) production by Brevibacterium flavum No. 2247 were determined. The adding of 0.01 mm neutral red at the beginning of cultivation was found most effective. A 1.5 V direct current was applied to the culture broth at 6~8 hr after inoculation in the cathode compartment, l-Glu was produced at 51.0 mg per ml, and this is about a 15 % increase in yield compared to the yield of the not electro-energizing (E-E) control (44.3 mg/ml).     

Pyrindicin,a New Alkaloid from a Streptomyces Strain

In the course of our examination for the alkaloid productivities of Streptomyces strains, Streptomyces sp. NA–15 was found to produce a new alkaloid, pyrindicin, in the culture medium. The strain NA–15 was found to be a variant of Streptomyces griseoflavus and was designated as S. griseoflavus var. pyr indie us nov. var.

After the culture conditions for pyrindicin production were studied, pyrindicin was obtained as its hydrochloride (mp 145°C, decomp.) from the cultured broth. The compound was shown to possess weak antimicrobial and several pharmacological activities. The LD₅₀ of the hydrochloride (ip, in mice) was 87 mg/kg.     

顺磁物质对土壤低场核磁共振信号特征及含水量测定的影响

核磁共振(NMR)技术由于具有高效快速、不破坏土壤结构且对人体无害等优点,逐渐被应用到土壤学相关领域研究中。然而,土壤中顺磁物质的存在对核磁共振信号特征的影响仍不明确。本研究旨在揭示顺磁物质对不同类型土壤低场核磁共振(LF-NMR)信号特征和土壤含水量测定的影响。结果表明:土壤水的LF-NMR信号量最高可达150左右,土壤矿物、有机质和微生物等固相物质的LF-NMR信号量基本不超过0.3,相对可以忽略。质地和顺磁物质对土壤水的LF-NMR信号量测量有更大影响。LF-NMR仪器存在弛豫时间监测盲区,信号量损失主要是由于顺磁物质加速了水中氢质子的弛豫过程,导致小孔隙中水分反馈的极快的LF-NMR信号不能被监测设备捕获。对于顺磁物质含量较少的壤性潮土(1.2%)和黏壤性黑土(1.3%),LF-NMR信号量损失不大,其与土壤含水量呈线性关系;但对于黏粒含量(45.3%)和顺磁物质含量(4.0%)较高的黏性红壤,测定中会损失一部分LF-NMR信号量,监测到的LF-NMR信号量与土壤含水量不再呈线性关系。此外,外源添加顺磁物质(3.0 g·L^-1的MnCl₂溶液)也会降低黑土和红壤中可被监测的LF-NMR信号量,黑土和红壤的信号量最大损失率分别为41.0%和46.7%,极大地改变其与土壤含水量之间的定量关系。因此,在利用LF-NMR测量富含顺磁物质(>1.3%)或有外源顺磁物质进入的黏性土壤的含水量时,应先通过校正降低顺磁物质等对LF-NMR信号量的影响。研究结果对利用低场核磁共振技术准确分析土壤水分分布及土壤孔隙结构具有重要意义。